Niger’s military leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, has alleged that France is orchestrating a plot to establish a terrorist base in Nigeria through the Wagner Group, a controversial private military company.
In a televised interview on Wednesday, Tiani claimed that his government had shared intelligence with Nigerian authorities about France’s alleged plan to use Wagner operatives to destabilise the region. He accused Nigeria of disregarding these warnings and turning a blind eye to the mercenary group’s activities.
“Our intelligence has long indicated France’s intention to utilise Wagner as a tool for spreading terrorism in Nigeria. We provided detailed recommendations to the Nigerian government, but they have chosen to ignore them”, Tiani stated.
The remarks come amid rising tensions between Niger and France following the recent military takeover in Niger, which ousted the democratically-elected government. France, a former colonial power in the region, has repeatedly denied any involvement in destabilising activities, while relations between the two nations remain strained.
Tiani’s allegations have sparked further debate about foreign influence and security in West Africa. The Wagner Group already operates in several African nations, including Mali and the Central African Republic.
However, a Lake Chad Basin counterterrorism and insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, cited General Tiani as saying the plan is purportedly to destabilize Niger and its neighbouring countries.
Makama, who made this known in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, said the Niger’s junta leader made this claim during a recent address, accusing France of meddling in the region and harbouring ulterior motives.
The security expert stated that the assertion marks the latest in a series of accusations directed at France by the Nigerien leader. According to him, the development reflects the deteriorating relations between Niger and its former colonial power following the military coup in July 2023.
In his analysis, Makama stated that General Tiani’s allegations appear to be grounded more in speculation than substantiated fact. The security expert argued that such continued, unfounded accusations against Nigeria pose a significant threat to diplomatic relations between the two nations.
